[VIDEO] Dance lifts ballerina’s spirit

“DANCE relaxes my body and soul, it allows me to show my truest self,” says Montclair ballerina, Julia Hosmer.

Since the age of four, dance has played an integral part in her life as it shaped her into the person she is today.

Full of heart, Julia takes life by the horns as everyday brings a new adventure and experience. The spirited 23-year-old dancer started her professional career at The Playhouse Company where she danced in the year-end production, West Side Story. “Before joining the Playhouse Dance Residency (PDR) I was strictly ballet but this opportunity opened a new world of dance for me and I have trained in contemporary dance and many other genres including, Kathak, Indlamu and Spanish dance. I also work for KZN Dance Productions as a part of dance company Phakama Dance Theatre,” she said.

Working for both companies has been a wonderful experience so far and they have helped her reach some of her dreams as a dancer.

“I have been given so many opportunities to express myself while doing what I love and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Hosmer.

The multi-talented dancer fell in love with performance art when she 18-years-old. “After matriculating I was fortunate to receive two scholarships. One to New Zealand which was non-dance related and another in New York to attend the Royal Academy of Dance summer school of excellence. During my time in NZ I started taking classes at Rhythm ‘n Steps Dance Academy in Auckland under the guidance of Helen Anderson and I must say she has been one of the strictest ballet teachers I have ever had. But she pushed my limits and brought out my potential, she helped me believe in my abilities as a dancer and ultimately helped me fall back in love with performing,” she said.

Although being a ballerina is every girl’s dream, Julia said it takes hard work and dedication to get to a professional level. “I train for seven hours a day, depending on whether we’re rehearsing for a production or not. My colleagues help to keep me motivated because we’re always working together to better our craft. Another thing is seeing myself improve as a dancer and using that as motivation. The discipline from years of ballet training has made me extremely focused and driven to be the best that I can be. “The latest production I will be taking part in is The Sound Of Music.”

She encourages the youth to get into dancing as it is a great way to come out of their shell and freely express themselves.

“There is no right or wrong way to move. It is a way to connect on a deeper level with people who share similar interests. Through my personal experiences I have found dance to be extremely relaxing for the mind, body and soul. It has also helped me with my self confidence. When I am performing I am showing my truest self and that is an extremely liberating feeling,” she added.

Dance has become a big part of her life but she does enjoy other forms of exercise to relax her such as, yoga, Pilates and riding her unicycle along the beachfront. “Meditation plays a big role in my regimen to keeping myself, as a whole, healthy. Some of my favourite things also includes reading, being outdoors, baking, dress making, DIY crafts, snacking, photography, napping as well as hanging up the laundry (I find it to be extremely therapeutic),” she giggles.

She advises aspiring dancers to listen to their body and follow their intuition. “I believe the mind is an extremely powerful gift and through personal experience I can say that projecting your dreams and goals outwards into the universe is a good way to get started or to help you move forward. Most importantly you need to believe in your personal ability to reach your goals and dreams and to know that the effort you put in will be the results that you see,” she said.

Her biggest goal as a dancer is to be able to inspire people of all ages to get moving because she finds body movement creatively encourages and cultivates self love. “And that, for me, is a wonderful thing to feel. I want to be able to share that experience with the lives of those I come into contact with,” she added.

Watch video here:

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